Machine for applying labels



May 31, 1938; GQW, VO HOE 2,119,371

' MACHINE. FOR APPLYING LABELS 3 Sheets-Sheet ,1

Filed July 1 1935 ENTOR. EEQRBE Won/mm ATTORNEY.

ca. w. VON HOF E MACHINE FOR APPLYING LABELS #Filed July 16, i956 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

EEOREEW l m' HOFE BY' r i ATTOEYS.

Maya, 1938. G.w.voN HOFE 2,119,3

MACHINE FOR APPLYING LABELS Filed July 16, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w v 6 F3 E;

O 1 7 6A! 4M INVENTOR. GE Wvon/ Hora ATTORNEYS cylindrical articles ofrelatively small diameter Patented May 31, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATENTOFFICE P he a 2,119,371

2,119,371 p MACHINE, FOR APPLYING LABELS I George ,vonHoI'e, BoundBrook, N. J., assign a or to New Jersey Machine Corporation. ,Hof-

boken, N. La corporation of New Jersey, Application, Julyulfi, 1936,Serial No. 90,921

The inventionrelatesto machines for applying labels and the like andmore particularly to adhesive coated labels, to the articlesor elementsfor whichthe labels and the like are designed and has for its object toprovide an improved melabels and the like to articles .or elements whichbecause oftheir shape or dimensions or both,or because of thepredetermined position of the labels and the like thereon, complicatethe applying operations. Other more specific objects will appear fromthe description hereinafter and claims. I N

thefeatures of novelty will be pointed out in the trate examples of theinvention without defining matic, of theflnovel-machine in a form'designed particularly forjapplying labels or the like to such assmalldry batteries; Fig. 2 is a central sectional elevationthereof;Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary detail viewsillustrating other forms ofthe novel machine; Fig. "6 is, a fragmentary detail view showing anotherform of the machine illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2, and Fig..7isqafragmentary, plan, view of the arrangement shown in The machine which isdiagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises asupportingframe or pedestal Iii of suitable type and dimensions in-which, anupright shaft II is journalled in any conventional manner; the shaft IIprojects upwardly beyond theirame Ill and is in keyed or equivalentconnection with a bearing lsleeve I2 which, in the illustrated example,rests upon the upper endportionof the frame I 0 for rotation with saidshaft I I as will appear more fully hereinafter. The sleeve I2 carriesand preferably comprises an integral part of a movable carrier shown inthe form of a horizontal table I! adapted to be intermittently rotatedin a horizontal plane and provided on its peripheral edge withbearingbrackets I4 arranged in co-operating In. the accompanyingdrawings, which illus-j 19 Claims. ((1216-55) pairs at intervals inopposed diametric relation to each other as shown in Fig. 1.Co-operatingrollers I5 are journalled in groups of two in spacedparallel relation to each other in each pair of bearing brackets, I4,and for convenience 5 of description and identification are hereinafterreferred to as, wrapping rollers; each two cooperating rollers I5 arerotatively driven in the, same direction by suitable driving meanswhich, inthe example illustrated, is shown in the form ofa drivingrollerI6 located in surface engagement with the rollers I5 of each pair anditself driven in any convenient manner.

;In the operation of the specific form of the machine selectedforpurposes of description, the shaft I I and with it the movablecarrier ortable I3, is rotated intermittently insteps, each of which rotativelyadvances thetable I3 through 90, so as to shift the wrapping rollers I5successively tothe various operative stations, of which there are fourin the illustrated machine. The first of these may be termed the feedingstation indicated at A, the second the label applying station B, thethird the wrapping station C, and the fourth the ejecting station D; itwill be understood that the various station designations are used merelyfor purposes of description and that they accordinglymay vary inaccordance with the various operative steps performed ,thereat or atequivalent stations in other specific types of the novel machine. l I IAny suitable mechanism may be providedio'r eflecting the intermittentrotation of the table I3 in the desired manner, For instance, as shownin Fig. 2 of the drawings, the shaft I I at an inter- 35 mediate pointmay be provided with a gear wheel I! fixed upon said shaft II in anysuitable man-- her to rotate therewith, it being understood that theillustrated support or pedestal I II is constructed to accommodate saidgear wheel I1 and its associated mechanism as indicated at I8. The gearwheel I] is arranged in mesh with a rack I9 mounted for horizontalreciprocation in a suitable guide 20 fixed upon the support I0 in anyconvenient mannenit is to be understood that suitable provision is madeso that during its one stroke the rack II! will rotatively actuate thegear I! and with it the shaft and table, I3, while during its reversemovement the rack I9 will simply develop a recovery stroke withoutoperati'vely afiecting the shaft I I, and table I3; in other words the,arrangement is such that each operation of the table I3 is followed by aperiod of rest during which the operative steps at the various stationsA, B, C; and D may be efl'ected.

For the purpose of illustrating the mechanism whereby the rack I9 isreciprocated, said rack is provided with a rod 2| projecting from oneend thereof and carrying a roller 22 in rolling engagement with a cam 23fixed upon a driving shaft 24 journalled in conventional bearings uponan upright frame 25; any conventional means may be provided formaintaining the roller 22 in operative engagement with the cam 23. Thelatter may be driven as illustrated by means of a pulley 26 mounted uponthe shaft 24 and a belt 21 connected with any selected form of drivingmechanism such as a motor or the like.-

In the novel machine in all of its forms, successive labels are carriedby a prime supporting means into adhesive receiving relation with anadhesive applying means, and subsequently to the application of theadhesive are delivered by said prime supporting means to, a secondarysupporting means with which the machine is provided; the secondarysupporting means in cooperationwith an article to be labeled by themachine, supports a label in position for application to the article forwhich it is designed or to put it more specifically, means is includedin the machine for detachably supporting at least one end of apreviously gummed label, while the latter is in position for applicationto said article. Themachine in question is designed specially forapplying labels provided on one surface with a coating'of adhesive inthe well-known way. In the example of the novel machine illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2, the secondary supporting means referred to above is shownin the form of plates 28 adjustably mounted on the upper face of thetable 13 for instance, by means of slots 29 and bolts 30in spacedregistry with each group of rollers l5 and I6, as shown in Fig. l. Theplates 28 are provided with supporting members or upright flanges 3| andwith members 32 projecting from said flanges towards the rollers l5 inspaced parallel relation to each other and preferably provided at spacedintervals along their upper edges with projections 33; in the preferredform the free ends of the members 32 may be bevelled as indicated at 34to avoid interference with the operation of applying the label as willappear more fully hereinafter.

In the form of the machine disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, the cylindricalarticle 35 such as for instance a dry battery cell, is rotated about itsaxis at the wrapping station C for the purpose of wrapping or applyingthe label circumferentially about the same. To effect this rotation ofthe article 35, mechanism is provided for rotating the roll l6 which,because of its frictional contact with the rollers l5, correspondinglyactuates the latterand thereby in turn rotates the article 35 about itsaxis. To develop these operations,the machine is provided at thewrapping station C with a driving roller 36 fixed upon a shaft 31 whichalso carries a pulley 38 connected by means of a belt 39 with a pulley40 located upon a shaft 4| suitably journalled in the frame 25.- Theshaft is further provided with a secondpulley 42 connected by means of abelt 43 with a pulley 44 fixed upon the previously mentioned drive'shaft24. The shaft 31 is journalled upon one arm of a bell crank lever 45pivotally mounted on the shaft 4| and having its other arm provided witha roller 46 arranged in engagement with a cam 41 mounted upon a shaft48. The latter is journalled in brackets 49 fixed upon the frame 25; aspring 50 or its equivalent serves to maintain the roller 46 inoperative engagement with the cam 41. The arrangement in additionincludes means for preventing the un intentional displacement of thearticle 35 during the period of application of the label thereto whichmeans may coincidentally function to press the label into engagementwith said article 35 during said period of application. In itsillustrated form the last named means consists of a pressure roller 5|journalled upon one arm of a bell crank lever 52 which is pivoted at 53upon the frame 25 and at the free end of its other arm carries a roller54 arranged in engagement with a cam 55 also fixed upon the previouslymentioned shaft 48; if desired, a spring 56 or its equivalent may beprovided for maintaining the roller 54 in operative engagement with thecam 55. The operation of the shaft 48 to rotate the cams 41 and 55 maybe effectecl'in any suitable manner and as shown, may be brought aboutby means of a toothed gear 51 on the shaft 4| meshing with a toothedgear 58' on the shaft 48. With the construction described the bell cranklevers 45 and 52 will be periodically operated by the cams 41 and 55 tomove the rollers 36 and 5! away from each other or in other words, tospread said rollers apart to avoid interference with the intermittentrotation of the table l3 when the application of a label to the article35 has been completed at station C; the arrangement of thecams 41 and 55preferably is such that the roller 36 will be moved away from the rollerIt at approximately the same moment that the pressure roller 5| is movedaway from the article 35.

The machine further includes any conventional means for bringingsuccessive labels into the applying'position at the applying station B,which means may constitute the previously mentioned prime supportingmeans, and in such case operates to carry the labels into adhesivereceiving relation with an adhesive applying means, and subsequently tothe application of the adhesive delivers the gummed labels to thesecondary supporting means referred to above. Generally, such primesupporting means may include a suitably actuated suction head 59arranged to remove the terminal label from a stack or other supply oflabels and to pass said label over an adhesive applying roll 59 or itsequivalent whereby a coating of adhesive or its equivalent is applied tosaid label and to then carry the adhesive coated or gummed label to theapplying position at station B. As the mechanism for transferringindividual labels successively from a supply thereof to the adhesiveapplying means and subsequently to the applying position at station Bper se forms no part of the instant invention and as the mechanism inquestion may be of well-known type, it has not been deemed necessary toillustrate the same in detail.

The machine so far described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 operatesas follows: During a rest period of the table [3, one of the articles 35such as a dry battery cell is deposited upon a given pair of the rollersl5 located at the time at the feeding station A so that said article 35rests between and in engagement with the two rollers l5 of said givenpair thereof. Through the'operation of the cam 23, the rack I9, the gear[1 and associated elements, the shaft H is given a quarter turn aboutits axis to thereby move the table I3 rotatively through an arc ofwhereby the article 35 previously placed upon the rollers I5 is broughtto the applying station B. At the same time this actuation of the table13 brings "condition at this stage. ;As. soon as .the label a asucceeding pair of rollers l to the feeding station A in position toreceiveanojther of the articles 35 which may be placed in positiononsaid into adhesive receivingjrelation to the adhesive applyingroll 59or its equivalent and subsequently, transfers the adhesive coated labela to the v secondary supporting means or in other Words, tothepositiondllustrated atthe station a B in Fig. 1 in which one Iend ofsaid label q, reg isters with and adhesively engagesthelupright flange3|;of the plate ialocatecl. at thisstation at the time, while the otherendof said label rests upon the periphcralsurfacefloi thearticle 35 atsaid. station .3; the arrangement is such that. the opposite ends. ofthe label a, are adhesively connected with the previously mentionedflange 3i andthe article 35 respectively, while the intermediateportions of thelabel rest upon the projections 330i the members 32 so asto. be

supported thereby, itbeing understood that the adhesive coatinguofthelabel ais still in a tacky has thus been placedin position on thesecondary supporting means at. the station Bfor application to anarticle, the table l3 is again rotatably actuated through an arc of 90f.to thereby bring the labela while in the applying position on saidsecondary supporting means to the wrapping station 0, it beingunderstood that atthis time the rollers 36gand. 5| are spread apart bythe action of the eams 41 and 55 to avoidany interference with thisadjustment of theparts. At the proper moment the bell crank levers 45.and 52 are op erated to bring the roller .36 into. engagement .1 Qwiththe roller I 6 and the .roller5l. intocontact withuthearticle 35. Asthis occurs the roller 36 willrotatively actuate the roller [6 andthrough itthe rollers 15, tocausethe article 35 to be rotated on itsaxis in a direction tocircumferentially wrap the label a upon theexternalfsurface of. the article 35. Duringthiswrapping the end of thelabel awill be withdrawn from theflange 3| and said label a will beproperly supported bythe prOjections 33 of the members 32 as thewrapping operation proceeds; at the sametime the pressure roller IE willnot only maintain the article .35 in proper position butwill also exerta pressure upon the label a whereby the latter is eilfectively appliedto the particular article 35.

When the wrapping of the labela upon the ar- 55 ticle 35 has beencompletedatthe station cane rollers 36. and5l are moved away from eachother by the action of the cams (H and. 55, where upon the rotation ofthe rollers li and I 5 and accordingly the rotation of the articlel35ceases.

At the proper moment the table I3 is again r0 tatablyshifted through an:arc of 90 to shiftthat pair of. rollers, l5 which carries the articlec35to which the labelahas beenapplied, to the ejecting station DJ.Atthisstation the labeled article 35 may be removed from the rollers l5by hand or provision maybe made for automatically ejecting said labeledarticle 35 from said rollersiS.

It willbeunderstood that as the table l3 isin F termittently actuated inthe manner set forth, that eachpair of rollers I5 is moved to theseveral stations in successive sequence, the several operations beingcarried out concurrently at each stationjlduri ng periods of resflin theintermit- Figs. 1 and. 2 or otherwise manipulated inaccordance with thecharacterof the machine in whichsaid table I 3* isembodied. The form ofthe machine now being described also includes secondary supporting meansforsupporting the previously gummed labels in position for applicationto the articles for which .saidllabels are intended, said secondarysupporting means being illustrated in the form ofuprightposts 28 located upon opposite sides of each seat [5 in spaced relation thereto atdistances dependent upon the dimensions of the labels for which themachine is primarily designed. At their upper ends the upright posts 235carry supporting members 3|, theupper surfaces of which are located at acommonlevel predetermined with respect to the articles to which thelabels are to "be applied. Theicrm under discussion alsoembodieswrapping means whereby the label is applied to or wrapped about thearticle, said wrappingfmeans being located at a.stationrcorresponding tothe station C of- Fig. 1, or being otherwisedisposed in dependence uponthe type of machine in which said wrapping means is incorporated; in theillustrated example, the wrapping means comprises levers 45 providedwithrollers and pivoted at ll upon a vertically movable plunger 60. Thelevers include arms 6| acted upon by springs 62 in a mannerto force therollers 361 toward each other; it will be understood that any suitablemechanism operatingin properly timed relation to the other parts of themachine may be provided for vertically operating the plunger for thepurpose to be morefully set forth hereinafter. In addition theplungerfiuyieldingly carries apressure member 51 mounted upon a rod 52F whichitself is slidable within. the plungeryGO and is guided in its verticalmovethe adhesive coatingof the labels in a tacky condition. Such heatingmeansnmay be of. any suit able type and as indicated at 66 is o ianelectrically operated type. a

operatedto bring the seats l5 to the stations corresponding to thestations A, B, C, D of Big.

1, in which case the article 35 illustrated as of cylindrical forrnisplaced in position. on a seat |5l at thestation .A and is then'carriedto the applying station B, it being understood that when this transfertakes place the. plungerfiiland its associated elements willoccupyaraised position at station C so as not to interfere with thedescribed movements of the table I3 When 3 the article 35?? reaches theapplying station B,

a label was carried by suitable prime supporting means, for instance,such as hereinbefore referred to, into adhesive receiving relation withIn practice the table l3. maybe intermittently an adhesive applyingmeans, as exemplified by the roller 59 of Fig. l, and subsequently tothe application of the adhesive is transferred by said prime supportingmeans. to a position in which the opposite ends of said gummedlabel arelocated upon and adhesively attached to the upper surfaces of thesupporting members 3i with an intermediate portion of the label a intangential contact with the surface of the article 35. Because of thetacky condition of the adhesive coating at this stage, the label a atits opposite ends will adhere lightly to the supporting members ii andaccordingly will be held'in position thereby for application to thearticle, the latter in the illustrated example co-operating with saidsupporting members 3| in thus supporting said label a. when theoperation of positioning a label a has been completed, the table I! willbe actuated to bring the article 35' and the label 'a' to the wrappingstation C. At this stage and in proper operative synchronism with theother parts of the ma chine, the plunger 60 will be'moved downwardly toinitially bring the pressure member 5| into contact with the label a atthe point of tangential engagement thereof with the article 35 tothereby press said label a into firmadhesive engagement with saidarticle, as will be apparent. As the downward movement of the plunger itcontinues, said plunger 60 will move lengthwise of the rod 52 tocompress the spring 64 to thereby progressively increase the pressureexerted by the pressure member 5| upon said label a, which accordinglyis firmly held in proper position against shifting relatively to thearticle 35. At the same time the continuing downward movement of theplunger 60 will cause the rollers 36 to engage the label a on oppositesides of the pressure member SI and to withdraw the opposite ends ofsaid label from the supports 3|; in the continuing downward movement ofthe parts the rollers 36 will follow the outer shape of the article 35,which in the illustration is cylindrical, and accordingly will wrap thelabel a about said article 35 or in other words, apply said labelthereto. By the action of the springs 62 the rollers 36 during theseoperative steps will develop a pressure upon the label a to cause it tofirmly adhere to the article 35 and to effect an efficient applicationof said label a to said article 35.

' The form of the machine illustrated in the fragmentary manner in Fig.4 is designed especially for applying labels as exemplified forinstance, .by revenue stamps to the heads of bottles or the like, and inits construction may correspond substantially to the arrangementillustrated in Fig. 3. The machine under discussion accordingly alsoincludes secondary supporting means-for supporting a previously gummedlabel in position for application to an article, which supporting means,as illustrated, includes supporting members 3|" corresponding to thesupporting members 31' and similarly mounted upon a table such as IS; inaddition suitable provision may be made upon the table such as the tableH, for supporting the article 35 in position intermediate of thesupports 3|". The machine in addition also includes prime supportingmeans, for instance such as previously referred to herein, for carryinga label into adhesive re: ceiving relation with an adhesive applyingmeans, such as the roller 59 and for subsequently transferring thegummed label to the secondary supporting means; the machine furtherembodies applying or wrapping means illustrated in the form of levers45' which may correspond in construction and operation to the members 45and carry at their free ends wrapping devices shown in the form ofbrushes 36 pivotally secured at 31' to the levers 45"; it will beunderstood that the aforesaid wrapping means may, as in the previousforms, be located at a wrapping station C. Asthe article 35 is broughtto the label applying station corresponding to the station B, a label ais brought by the prime supporting means into position for transfer tothe secondary supporting means and for application to the article withthe opposite ends of said label a. in adhesive connection with thesupporting members 3| and an intermediate portion of said label aresting upon the article 35''; the latter thus also co-operates with thesupporting members li in the aforesaid support of said label a. Afterthe latter has been placed in position as described, the tablecorresponding to the table I3 is rotatively actuated orotherwisemanipulated to bring the article 35 with the label a in theposition previously mentioned to the wrapping station corresponding tothe station C of Fig. 1. The levers 45 are then moved downwardly intocontact with the label a which, as the downward movement of the levers45' continues, is withdrawn from the supports 3| and wrapped upon orapplied to the article 35', as will be apparent. It will be understoodthat the levers 45' are preferably under the influence of springs, suchas the springs 62, so that the brushes 36 develop a pressure upon thelabel a as it is being applied to the article 35 it will similarly beobvious, because of the pivotal connection of the brushes 36' with thelevers 45', that said brushes will automatically accommodatethemselvesto the progressive wrapping operation and to the surface contour of thearticle 35 to which the label a is being applied.

In Fig. 5 the machine is diagrammatically illustrated in a form designedspecially for applying labels to or wrapping labels upon articles oftriangular, rectangular or polygonal form; for purposes of descriptionan article 35 of triangular shape in cross-section has been selected.The form of the machine under discussion may be of the same general typeand operate in the same general manner as those previously describedherein and embodies a prime supporting means for carrying a label intoadhesive receiving relation with an adhesive applying means, such as theroller 59*; the form of the machine under discussion may further includea table Iii similar to the previously mentioned tables l3 and I3, andalso provided with secondary supporting means for receiving the gummedlabels from the prime supporting means and supporting said labels inposition for application to the articles for which said labels aredesigned; as illustrated, the aforesaid secondary supporting meanscomprises upright posts 28 located upon the upper surface of said tableI3 in spaced parallel relation to each other as shown; the upright posts28' at their upper ends carry supporting members 3l adapted, as in theforms shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to support the label a in wrapping orapplying position. The table l3 further includes seats l5 arran'ged uponopposite sides of an opening B with which the table l3 is provided asillustrated in Fig. 5; the seats l5 are arranged to support the article35 over the opening I! and so as to extend across the same forthepurpose to be more fully set i'orth hereinafter. H, In the form, nowbeing described, the seats I 5 are closer to one of thesupportingmembers 3lFof a given pairethan to. .theother j the table 13 one of saidsupportingmembers of said pair, as indicated in Fig. 5. The machineillustrated in Fig.5 furtherincludes wrappingmeans located, for instanceata stationC, for applying orwrapping the label to or. upon the.specific articles; in its illustrated form thiswrapping means consists,of ,levers 453. corresponding to the levers 45 of Fig. 3 and mounted andoperated in the same or an equivalent manner to .secui e the desiredresults. I At theirfreeends, the levers 45 are provided with wrappingmembers illustrated in theform of brushes .369 which may be fixed uponsaid a levers. 45, or. otherwise supported thereon asmay be foundnecessary in anygiven machine. Infadditionthe machine of Fig. in-.

cludes a additional lever 45 provided at ,its free end with a wrapping.member shown. also in-the form of a brush .36! pivotally connected jwith the lever 45 at 3 1P; .the lever 45 is 013- erated in anyconvenient manner to reciprocate.

the brush 3t lengthwiseof the opening lii of In practice after;theearticle 35 been placed in position upon the seats I5 at a feed",

ing station corresponding to the stationA of Fig.

1 the table l3 mayberotatively actuated to bring the article to theapplying-station such: as the stationB in Fig. 1., At thisg point thelabel is carried by a primesupporting means into adhesive receivingrelation with the adhesive applying rneans, andthe adhesively coatedlabel t a is carried by the prime supporting means such as hereinbeforedescribed into position for transfer to the secondary supporting meanswhereby said label a ds held inpositionfor application to the article.35; in this positlonthe label a? has its opposite ends 'inadhesiveconnectionwith the supporting members. 3|? and at anintermediate point'nearerits one end is in contact with the, outer surfacefof thearticlex35 .as

shown Fig. 5. The article 35? here also thus co-operates with thesupporting members .31 in supporting the label a in positionforapplication. to said article. 35. When the label a has been placedinapplying position at the station B,

thetable I? is againactuated to shift the article 35 and the label a inthe applying position to the wrappingstation corresponding forinstance,,to the station C of .Fig. 1. When this one of said surfaces asindicatedby dotted lines in Fig. 5; this .is due to thefact thatthearticle 35 is located nearer to the one support 3l than to the other,or inother words, ls'closer to one end of the label a than to the other.As the next; step inthe wrapping or applying operation the lever 45 isoperatedin the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5 tovcause the brushv36 tobring the depending portion of the labela into contact with thelower.,surface of the=article 35; the aforesaid depending portion ofsaid label a3 will thereby. be adhesively, connected withsaid lowersurface'of the article 35? and accordinglywill q complete theapplication of the label to such armay be adapted for applying labels toarticles of rectangular or polygonal form in 2. corresponding manner bynism accordingly. r i t l l The it diagrammatically illustratedarrangement shown. in Figs. 6 and? corresponds to the machine shown inFigs. land 2 and difi'erstherefrom only in the fact that the suctionhead 59 or its equivalent is providedwith'an electrically operated orequivalent heating device .61 so located that it will engage that end ofthe label which is adhesively secured to the article 35 whichisoflcircular formand may correspond to the article 35 of Fig. 2. Thisheating deviceifil may serve. to soften the plastic coating with which;the articles 35 as exemplified by many 1 types of drybatterycells arecovered alongr a line lengthwise of said article 35* to cause saidplastic coating to act as an adhesive for adhesively. securing the oneend of the label-to the article, 35 In such case an adhesivecoatingpreviously applied to the label may be. in the form of ,a stripe locatedat the other end, of the label a as shown in Fig. 7, which; adhesivestrip at will operate first toadhesively attach,

said other end .of the label. a for instance, to a supporting memberorflange3l as in Fig. 2,

and subsequently to fasten thelabel a in POSi-r. tionon thearticle 35when completely applied thereto. The constructionand.operation of thearrangementillustrated in Figs. 6 and '7 may be otherwise as set forthpreviously. hereinin connectionlwith Figs. 1 and2. f i

As set forth inthe description asthma which the labelsare to be appliedco-operate,

with'the several secon'dary supporting means in the difierent forms ofthe machine, to. support saidllabels inposition for application to thearticles for, which said labels are intended. It will be: understoodthat in the forms shown in Figs.

3,4 and 5 the co-operating supporting members 3P .il and 3lrespectively, of the secondary supporting means constitute the. majorfactors in such support of thelabels and in some ticler n will beunderstood that the machine,

arranging the applying mechacases may effect. such supportindependentlyof but relatively to the articles to be labeled.

The novel machine in all ofits formsis simple in construction andprovides for carrying ,a label into adhesive receiving relation withadhesive applying means and subsequently transferring the gummed labelto secondary supporting means whereby: the gummed label is efficientlysupported in position for application to an article and furthermoreprovides forithe rapid and efficient removalof the labels from saidsecondary supporting means and their application'to the articles forwhich said; labels aredesigned'. The i machine is particularly adapted.for handling,

labels of unusual dimensions and for applying the same to articles ofunusual sizeand shapes,

and is of malximum efficiency in applying labels 1 to cylindricalarticles of smalldiameter and to 1 articles having a cross-sectionalform otherthan cylindrical; In all the forms of the machine the:

label is held by theaforesaid secondary supportingmeansin position forapplication to an article, generally by the adhesive coating of suchlabel while such coating is still tacky,1so. as to be easily releasedfrom such applying position and appliedto the article in. a uniformandeflicient manner.

Various changes in the specifie forms shown and described may be madewithin the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim? 1. Ina labeling machine, the combination of a carrier movableto successive operating stations, holding means on said carrier forsupporting an article to be labeled, secondary supporting means on saidcarrier inpredetermined relation to said holding means for temporarilyreceiving and supporting a previously gummed label, prime supportingmeans operative at a given station for depositing said gummed label uponand in temporary adhesive contactwith said secondary supporting means inpredetermined applying relation to said article, and means operative ata subsequent station for releasing said label from its temporaryadhesive contact withsaid secondary supporting means and for effectingthe application of said label to said article.

2. ma labeling machine, the combination of means forcarrying a labelprovided with adhesive on its one surface, means on which said label isdeposited by said carrying means subsequent to the application of saidadhesiveto said label to adhesively support at least one end of saidlabel while the latter is in position for application to an article, andmeans for effecting the release of said one end of the label from saidsupporting means and the application of said label from said position tosaid article.

3. In a labeling machine for applying adhesive coated labels, thecombination of holding means for supporting an article to be labeled,additional 'means co-operating with an article positioned upon saidholding means in supporting a label in position for application to saidarticle, and means for carrying said label into adhesive receivingrelation with an adhesive applying means and for subsequently depositingsaid label upon said additional means in temporary adhesive contacttherewith and in initial adhesive contact withsaid article inpredetermined applying relation to the latter.

4. In a labeling machine for applying adhesivecoated labels, thecombination of holding means forsupporting an article to be labeled,additional means co-operating with an article positioned upon saidholding means in-supporting a label in position for application to saidarticle, means for carrying a label during application of adhesivethereto and for subsequently depositing saidlabel upon said additionalmeans in'temporary adhesive contact therewithand in initial adhesivecontact with said article in predetermined applying relation to thelattenand means for releasing said label from said additional means andeiiectingits application to said article.

5. In a labeling machine, the combination of a movable carrier, holdingmeans on said carrier for supporting an article to be labeled,additional means on said table co-operating with an article positionedupon said holding means in support- I ing a label in predeterminedposition for application to said article, andmeans for carrying a labelduring application of adhesive thereto and for subsequently depositingsaid label upon said additional means in temporary adhesivecontacttherewith and in initial'adhesive contact with said article inpredetermined applying relation to 6. In a labeling'machine orapplyingadhesive coated labels, the combination of-amovable carrier, holdingmeans on said carrier for supporting an article to be labeled, a suppot. on said carrier in spaced relation to said holding means and withwhich one end of a label may be in adhesive contact while anotherportion of said label is in adhesive engagement with an articlesupported on said holding means whereby said support and said articleco-operate in supporting said label in predetermined position forapplication to said article, and means for carrying said label duringapplication of adhesive thereto and for subsequently depositing saidadhesive coated label on said support in said applying position forapplication to said article.

7. In a labeling machine for applying adhesive coated labelsfthecombination of a rotatable table, a group of rollers carried'by saidtable for supporting an article to be labeled, a member mounted on saidtable in spaced registry with said group of rollers with which one endof a. label may be in adhesive contact'while the other EIld'Of saidlabel is in adhesive engagement with the outer surface of the articlesupported by said group 'of rollers whereby said article and said memberco-oper'ate to support said label in position for application to saidarticle, means whereby said rollers are rotated to rotate said articleabout its axis and thereby withdraw the end of said label from saidmember and progressively apply said label circumferentially of saidarticle, and means for carrying said label during application ofadhesive thereto and for subsequently transferring said label to aposition for adhesiveengagement respectively with said member and saidarticle.

8. In a labeling machine for applying adhesive coated labels, thecombination of a rotatable table, a group of rollers carried by saidtable for supporting an article to be labeled, a member mounted on saidtable in spaced registry with said group of rollers with which one endof a label may be in adhesive contact while the other end of said labelis in adhesive engagement with the outer surface of the articlesupported by said group of rollers whereby said article and said memberco-operate to support said label inposition for application to saidarticle, means wherey said rollers are rotated to rotate said articleabout its axis and thereby withdraw the end of said label from saidmember and progressively apply said label circumferentially of saidarticle, and means on said table between said member and said group ofrollers for supporting said label during its progressive application tosaid article.

9. In a labeling machine for applying adhesive coated labels, thecombination of an intermittently rotatable table, a group ofco-operating rollers carried by said table for supporting an. article tobe labeled, a member adjustably mounted on said table inregistry withsaid group of rollers with which one end of a label in applying positionis adapted to be adhesively engaged while the other end of said label insaid applying position is adhesively engaged with the article supportedon said group of'rollers, wrapping means adapted to be operativelycombined with said group of rollers at the end of an intermittentmovement of said table, said wrapping means operating to rotate saidgroup of rollers to rotate the article supported thereby on its axiswhereby said label is progressively applied circumferentially of saidarticle, pressure developing means operating in harmony with saidwrapping means for maintaining the article in place and for applyingpressure to said label during its application to said article, and meanslocated between said member and said group of ating in harmony with saidwrapping means for rollers forsupporting said] label during itspromittently rotatable table, agroup of co-operating rollers carried bysaid table forsupporting an article to be labeled, a member adjustablymounted on said tablein registry with said group of rollers with whichone end of a label in applying position is adapted to be adhesivelyengaged while the other end of said labelin said applying position isadhesively engaged with the article supportedonsaid group of rollers,wrapping means adapted to be operatively combinedwithsaid group ofrollers at the end of an intermittent l the article supported thereby onits axis whereby said label is progressively applied circumferentiallyof said article, pressure developing means oper maintaining the articlein place and for applying said article, means located between saidmember 25 pressure to said label during its application to and saidgroup of rollers for supporting saidlabel during its progressiveapplication to said article, and means for shifting said wrapping meansand pressure developing means to inoperative position at the completionof the application of the label to said article to avoid interferencewith a subsequent intermittent rotation of said table.

I 11. In a labeling machine for applying adhesive coated labels, thecombination of a carrier, a pair of co-operating supporting membersmounted on said carrier in spaced relation to each other for receiving apreviously gummed label, means for conveying said gummed label anddepositing it upon said supporting members in; temporary adhesivecontact therewith and in predetermined position for application to anarticle, and means on said support for supporting said ,article in labelreceiving relation to the label temporarily:

deposited on saidsupporting members.

12. In a labeling machine for applying adhesive coated labels, thecombination of a carrier, 9; pair of co-operating supporting membersmounted on said carrier in spaced relation to each other ,for receivinga previously gummed label, means for conveying said gummed label anddepositing it upon, said supporting members in temporary adhesivecontactftherewith and in predetermined position for application to anarticle, means on said support for supporting said article in labelreceiving relation'to the label temporarily deposited on said supportingmembers, and wrapping means for releasing said label from saidsupporting members and for applying said label to 3 said article.

13. In a labeling machine for applying labels,

the combination of, a movable table. a group of supporting rollerscarried by said table for supporting a cylindrical article to belabeled, supporting means on said table in spaced registry with saidgroup of rollers for adhesively receiving one end of a label while theother end of said position, means for carrying said label duringapplication of adhesive thereto and for subsequently transferring saidlabel to said supporting means and said article, and heating meansmounted on said label carrying means in registry withthat end of thelabel which is to be engaged with said article. p

14. In a labeling machine for applying labels including an adhesiveapplying means and a primary, supporting means for carrying a label intoadhesive receiving relation with said adhesive applying means and beyondthe same, that ,improvement which comprises a movable carrier forsupportingan article to be labeled, secondary supporting means on saidcarrier on which the gummed label is deposited by said primarysupporting means in predetermined applying relation to said article, andmeans whereby said label is released from said secondary supportingmeans and applied to said article.

In alabeling machine, the combination of means for holding an article tobe labeled, means for depositing a previously gummed label in applyingposition in initial adhesive engagement with said article, heating meanswherey the adhesive coating of the label is heated, and means forcompleting the application of the label to the article.

16. Ina labelingmachine, the combination of means for holding an articleto be labeled, sup porting means in co-operative relation to saidholding means for adhesively receiving a predetermined portion of alabel while another portion of said label is engaged with the article tobe,

means and article, and heating means mounted on said depositing meansin" registrywith that portionof the label which is'to be engaged withsaid article, I t

17. In a labeling machine, the combination of a transfer head fortransferring a'label to an applying station, and heating means mountedon said transfer head whereby a label carried thereby is subjected tothe heating action of said heating means.

18. Ina labeling machine, the combination of a suction-controlledtransfer head for transferring a label to an applying station, and aheating device mounted on said transfer head whereby a predeterminedportion of a label carried thereby is subjected to the heating action ofsaid heating device.

19. In a labeling machine, the combination 01 a transfer head fortransferring an adhesive coated label into applying relation to anarticle to be labeled; and heating meansmountedon said head andeffective to develop adhesive connection

